Best Free Travel Apps

Smartphones are all the rage these days, and apps are a popular way to make travel easier and cheaper. Why do all the research when you can hit that download button, put in your information, and let the app do all the work for you? We have compiled a quick list of some of our favorite travel apps to make your life easier:

• Airbnb. Free. This app allows you to rent unique places in over 190 cities in any budget. You can use the filters to set your budget, and can even request an entire house. Airbnb allows you to get to know the local neighborhoods on a more personal level.
• Tripit. Free. For the planners to track every detail of their trip. Customize your itinerary and keep plane, train, and dinner reservations all in one tidy little place. 
• Google Translate. Free. Traveling to a foreign country? This app is a lifesaver! You are even able to scan simple text, such as menu items or train time tables, and it will translate it into your desired language.
• Gas Buddy. Free. Road trip? Need to fill up that rental car? This popular travel app searches your location and compares gas prices on the spot. Super helpful way to save a few bucks! 
• Hotel Tonight. Free. Sure, you usually have your hotels all lined up for your entire trip, but sometimes things just don't go as planned. This app helps you find last minute deals on leftover hotel rooms minutes or hours before you need to check in. In a tight spot, it can be a lifesaver. 

While these travel apps are a great way to aid in a stress-free trip, Rocket Parking will leave you at ease when you drop your car at our lot and hop on our free shuttle to Houston International Airport. Reserve online today and save. 

5 "Must See" Travel Destinations for 2015

We are halfway through the first month of 2015, and if you haven't started planning your vacations for this year, you should probably start! Flight options from Houston Airport are continually increasing, and choosing a destination can be quite time consuming! To start your 2015 off right, we have a list of the top five "must see" travel destinations for 2015:

Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy certainly isn't a new, or even an up-and-coming destination, so why does it make our top five for places to travel from Houston in 2015? This year, Milan is hosting a 2015 expo on "the future of food" that will draw over 20 million visitors! This expo brings along with it tons of new architecture unique to Milan and hundreds of cuisines from across the world. 

Singapore

As if you needed a reason to visit Singapore in the first place, this year, the country will celebrate its 50th year of independence with parades and merry making all year. The country is extremely safe and the urban areas are shockingly clean. Tourists can enjoy wide expanses of green spaces, cultural heritage, a national art museum, and world-class hotels and dining.

Oman

Most people have never even heard of this Middle Eastern country, located right next to the United Arab Emirates. Have you always wanted to travel to the Middle East and experience the culture and cuisine of this mysterious world? Oman is the safest Middle Eastern country in 2015 and is a highly anticipated destination to visit this year. 

Durham, North Carolina

8 hour flights and international border crossings not your idea of fun? Durham, N.C. is a lot closer to home and just as interesting as overseas destinations! Durham is boasting all the latest cuisine innovations, from fair-trade coffee shops and micro-breweries, to the best local diners you can find. This year, Durham is debuting a "tree house" hotel, where guests will stay some 20 feet above the ground.

Dominican Republic

If you are okay with a shorter flight [under 4 hours from most USA cities], but still want to visit an exotic destination, the Dominican Republic may be just right for you! Instead of visiting the "usual" high-tourist areas of the Dominican Republic, consider visiting the country's pristine northern shore. The north shore will have much less traffic and the beaches and hotels are a far cry away from "ordinary."

Before embarking on your 2015 trip of the year, don't forget to make your online parking reservation with Rocket Parking. We want to ensure that your Houston International Airport flight experience is a smooth as possible by ensuring we get you to your gate on time so you don't have to worry about airport parking!

Best and Worst Airports 2014

It is no secret that airport travel can be stressful! Thankfully, Houston Airport doesn't fall on the "worst" list! IAH is actually ranked as #19 on the "best" list! Make your online reservation with Rocket Parking and see how stress-free travel can be! By comparing the percentage of positive and negative tweets about each airport, these are rankings, ordered from best to worst:

BEST AIRPORTS:

1. Orlando International, Florida (MCO)
2. Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
3. Miami International, Florida (MIA)
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Minnesota (MSP)
5. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW)
6. San Francisco International, California (SFO)
7. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Michigan (DTW)
8. Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
9. Charlotte Douglas International, North Carolina (CLT)
10. Los Angeles International, California (LAX)
11. John F. Kennedy, New York, New York (JFK)
12. Boston International, Massachusetts (BOS)
13. Denver International, Colorado (DEN)
14. Phoenix International, Arizona (PHX)
15. Seattle-Tacoma International, Washington (SEA)
16. Newark International, New Jersey (EWR)
17. Chicago O'Hare, Illinois (ORD)
18. LaGuardia, New York, New York (LGA)
19. George Bush International, Houston, Texas (IAH)
20. Philadelphia International, Pennsylvania (PHL)

WORST AIRPORTS:

1. La Guardia International, New York (LGA)
2. Los Angeles International, California (LAX)
3. Honolulu International, Hawaii (HNL)
4. Newark Liberty International, New Jersey (EWR)
5. John F. Kennedy International, New York (JFK)
6. Philadelphia International, Pennsylvania (PHL)
7. Miami International, Florida (MIA)
8. Cancun International, Mexico ()
9. Las Vegas McCarran International, Nevada (LAS)
10. Washington Dulles International, D.C. (IAD)

Ice Cream in Houston

Summer is the perfect excuse to eat ice cream, especially if you live in Texas! Celebrate long nights and sunny days by eating everyone’s favorite summer treat! Sure, you could hit up the local grocery store for a pint, but this year, we are challenging you to think local! Here are some of our local Houston ice cream suggestions:

ü  Fat Cat Creamery. Fat Cat is all the rage in Houston! Using high-quality local ingredients, the confectioners create specialized ice cream for a range of tastes. From maple and candied bacon, to pumpkin cheesecake, there is frozen dairy delight for everyone. Want to help save the environment? Fat Cat’s ice cream cups are fully compostable!

ü  The Chocolate Bar. For the chocolate lover in all of us, the Chocolate Bar offers a wide selection of, you guessed it, chocolate ice cream! This bar boasts malts, truffles and delicious milk shakes. Grab a sample of lemon velvet ice cream to cleanse your pallet in-between chocolaty deliciousness!

ü  Cloud 10 Creamery. Heard of “cloud 9?” Well, cloud 10 is even better! This relatively new ice cream parlor boasts unique flavors such as peanut butter and jelly ice cream, and gourmet banana splits.

ü  La King’s Confectionary. Take the short drive down to Galveston and you won’t regret it! La King’s combines old-fashioned ice cream with antique soda fountains to bring you dozens of different flavors from apple pie, to traditional vanilla.

Whether you are flying in or out of Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport, there is always enough time to catch a sweet bite to eat before leaving your car with Rocket Parking. Houston Airport parking has never been easier! 

What to do in Houston in July

Going to be flying into Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport sometime in July? Live in the Houston area and wondering what to do during the rest of the month? You have come to the right place! Rocket Parking has compiled a list of events and activities going on around the Houston area during the month of July. Check out these ways to beat summer boredom:

• Bulgari: 130 Years of Masterpieces. If something different and in the air conditioning is your amusement style, head over to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Throughout the month of July, you will be able to view over 150 sizable pieces of jewelry from Bulgari’s Heritage Collection, including masterpieces from historical archives!
• Bayou City Stand Up Paddle Board Lessons. For just $22, learn this newest watersports craze from friendly instructors on July 20^th. Partake in this full body workout on the lovely, spring-fed waters of 288 banks. Teachers and stand up paddle boards are provided; all you have to do is bring the fun!
• Houston Dash Soccer. As a result of the Soccer World Cup, “futbol” is in the spotlight these days! If you spent a month glued to your TV screen watching the games in Brazil, it is time to get out and see your local Houston Dash team play out-of-towners! Come out to the BBVA stadium on July 30^th and cheer on the Houston Dash as they play Seattle Reign. Look for multiple games during July and August.
• Austin Mahone Concert. Have a teen or tween who is starry-eyed about Austin Mahone? Like the up-and-coming pop singer yourself? You’re in luck! On July 26^th, he will be playing at NRG Park. Tickets start range from $40-$70.

Don’t forget to leave your car in the care of Rocket Parking next time you fly out of Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport.